Injection press



July 31, 1945 w. R. TUCKER fi y INJECTION PRESS Filed Dec. 6, 1940 I N VE N'TOR' WARREN R. TUE/(ER ATTORNEYS ma r al st 194s 1 r fmmcrronranss Warren It. Tucker, Dayton, Ohio, asslgnor to l he Hydraulic Development Corp. Inc., Wilmington, DeL. a corporation of Delaware Application December 6, 1940, Serial No. 368,895

2 Claims. (Cl. 1H0) This invention relates to machines having plungers or rams operated by pressure sources for app ng forming pressure upon various materials and specifically relates to the improvement oi the speedof operation and the means for controlling said speed to obtain improved results in forming presses and extrusion machines.

It is an object of the invention to provide a machine having a fluid operated plunger mechanism wherein the rate of operation of the plunger is controlled by means of the rateof discharge of fluid from the push-back side of the plunger.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine having a fluid operated plunger mechanism wherein the fluid motor for operating the plunger is advanced by means of a high pressure fluid, and which is controlled in its advancement by controlling the flow of fluid discharged from the opposite side of the motor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a plastic extrusion machine wherein a fluid motor is provided for operating the injection plunger, the fluid motor being advanced by means of a high pressure fluid, and restrained in its advancement by controlling the flow of fluid discharged from the motor.

It is another object of the invention to provide a plastic extrusion machine or a forming press having a fluid motor for operating the injection plunger which is continuously connected to a relatively high pressure source, and which is provided with a hydraulic fluid circuit for causing retraction of the plunger, which circuit re-establishes the pressure in the high pressure circuit upon retraction of the plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extrusion machine or forming press wherein the injection plunger is advanced/by means of a high pressure gas source, and which is controlled in its advancement by controlling the discharge of fluid from the push-back cylinder of the fluid motor and which re-establlshes the pressure on the first fluid system upon each retraction stroke of the plunger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plastic extrusion machine wherein high speed of injection is obtainable in a manually operated machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a machine according to the foregoing object wherein the pressure source for operating the injection plunger is higher than would normally be required, the effect of which upon the injection plunger is regulated by controlling the flow of fluid from the fluid motor operating the plunger upon the advancing stroke thereof.

It-is another object of the invention to provide a machine having a plunger mechanism wherein the movable elements of the machine are hydraulically actuated, and which hydraulic system maintains and re-establishes a source of dynamic pressure which is connected to the fluid motor for operating the plunger through aforward advancing stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid motor for operating the plunger of a forming machine wherein the motor is caused to advance the plunger by means of a high pressure gas, and retract thep unser y means of hydrauis by means of a high pressure gas and is controlled in its advancement by the rate of flow of liquid from the motor.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the drawing.

'In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic control system for a plastic extrusion machine.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic showing of a modifled system for controlling the rate of flow of a fluid.

One of the major faults of forming or extrusion machines is that the speed of the plunger is dependent upon the capacity of a hydraulic pump which supplies fluid to a hydraulic motor for reciprocating the plunger. The ultimate speed of operation of the plunger or ram on an extrusion machine or forming press is determined by the capacity of the hydraulic pump, and to provide high. speeds of operation it is required that the hydraulic pump be of extremely large system connected to the pp site side of the fluid as size. My invention provides an apparatus which eliminates the use of hydraulic pumps for advanclng the plunger or ram of a forming machine, and provides a system wherein the pressure for operating the plunger can be any high pressure source of fluid. My invention provides a source of pressure fluid which is greater than any pressure normally to be required for operation of the plunger, the operating eflect 01' which is controlled by controlling the rate of flow of liquid discharged from the push-back chamber of the fluid motor which reciprocates the plunger.

The high speed of operation of the plunger has particular merit when used in combination with a plastic extrusion machine and hence the preferred disclosure is with regard to this type 01' machine.

In this invention the plast'c extrusion machine consists of a frame portion In which supports an iniection cylinder I I. The injection cylinder II extends through the frame member Ill and has a nozzle I2 projecting beyond the frame III. A plurality of strain rods I3 is carried upon the frame member Ill and is suitably secured thereto.

A hydraulic fluid motor I5 is carried upon a cross head IGa which is mounted upon the strain rods I3 and secured thereto by any suitable means. The fluid motor I5 consists of a cylinder I6 and a piston H. The piston II has a plunger I8 extending through the end wall I9 oi the cylinder I6. The plunger I8 is arranged for reciprocation within the bore of the injection cylinder II.

The strain rods I3 extend through the tram member I9 and are arranged to carry a fluid motor 25. The fluid motor is carried upona cross head 26 which is suitably secured to the strain rods I3. The motor 25 consists of a cylinder 21 and a piston 28, the piston 28 having a plunger 29 associated therewith which extends through the end wall 30 of the cylinder 21.

The plunger 29 carries a platen which is p v w guide bars 36 in engagement with the strain rods I3. The platen 35 is arranged to carry a die element 40. The platen 35 is arranged to be reciprocated by means of the fluid motor 25 in order to bring the die element 40 into engagement with a, die element 40a.

The die element 40a is carried upon a platen 45. The platen is suspended from the frame member I0 by means of the suspension links 46. These suspension links have T-shaped heads 41 which engage suitable openings in the Irame member I6 and the platen 45, whereby the platen can be suspended from the frame I0 and be spaced a predetermined distance from the frame member Ill.

The nozzle I2 of the injection cylinder II is arranged to be spaced from the die element 40a when the platen 45 is in its suspended position, as disclosed in Figure 1. This spacing of .the nozzle from the mold breaks the thermal contact therebetween to prevent heat transfer from the injection cylinder to the mold 40:: when the die elements 400 and 40 are in the open position. The platen 45 is provided with extending arms 4! which engage the strain rods I3 for guiding the platen 45 when reciprocated by the closing motion of the die elements 40 and 40a.

Any suitable means can be provided for charging the injection Cylinder I I with plastic material which is to be heated therein and ejected from the cylinder. Suitable heating passages 4: surround the cylinder bore 20 of the injection cylinder II for heating the plastic material charged into the cylinder. These heating passages may a,sso,esa

be provided either for the circulation of a hot liquid or gas, or electric resistance elements can be positioned therein for providing the desired heating of the injection cylinder. The various methods of obtaining heating for elevating the temperature of the plastic material within the injection cylinder are well known In the art and further description thereof is not deemed necessary. o

The plastic extrusion machine heretofore described is well known in the art and it is understood that the verious elements of the machine may take various mechanical forms. the machine as disclosed in this application being for the purpose of disclosing a plastic injection machine which can be operated in accordance with the teachings of my control system.

The control system for operating the plastic injection machine heretofore described consists of a relatively high pressure source which is connected to the fluid motor I5 in a manner that the high pressure source always tends to cause forward advancement of the piston. 31 of the fluid motor i5. Thus, this fluid pressure source may consist of a cylinder 60 of a suitable gas maintained under relatively high pressures, which may be in the order of 1500 pounds per square inch. A suitable gas cylinder can be fllled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, and can be retained at the high pressure for an indefinite period. The gas cylinder 50 is connected to the chamber 6| 0! the fluid motor I5 by means oi a conduit 62. When the closure valve 61, provided on the cylinder 60, is opened the gas pressure from the cylinder 80 will enter the chamber II oi the fluid motor I5 thereby tending to force the piston ll of the plunger II in a forward stroke. This movement is resisted by means which will be hereinafter described.

The gas pressure cylinder ill represents for the purposes of my invention a source of high pressure which is continuously applied within the advancing chamber 6| for the fluid motor I5. The pressure from the gas cylinder 50 can be applied to the fluid motor I5 at the pressure existing within the gas cylinder I5, or a constant pressure valve can be positioned in the conduit 62 between the cylinder and the chamber SI of the fluid motor I5.

If the full eflect of the gas pressure within the cylinder ill is directed upon the piston II of the fluid motor I5 there will be no reserve supply it the gas pressure should leak from the system. Hence, the interpositioningpf a constant pressure valve 65 between the cylinder 50 and the fluid motor I5 permits the use of a higher pressure within the cylinder 60, and reduces the pressure to the value desired to be applied upon the fluid motor I5. This arrangement provides a certain reserve to take care of leakage within the system.

Since the gas pressure within the cylinder 5| is continuously applied within the chamber ll of the fluid motor l5, it can be seen that some provision is required to permit movement of the gas from the chamber I when the piston ll of the fluid motor I! is forced through a retraction stroke. A check valve 86 is thus provided in the conduit 62 to permit the constant pressure valve 55 to be by-passed when the gas flow is in the direction toward the cylinder ill, but' which will 21.0% when the flow of gas is from the cylinder It is of course within the concept of this invention that other sources of high fluid pressure can be used in place of the gas pressure as heretotore described. As long as the high pressure source continuously applies the effect of its pressure upon the piston II, the use of high pressure source, regardless of its nature, will come within the concept of this invention.

As heretofore described, the piston I1 of the fluid motor I5 is advanced through the cylinder I6 to cause an injection stroke of the plunger I8 by means of the gas pressure being applied within the chamber 6| of the fluid motor I5. A hydraulic pressure source is provided to oppose the effect of the fluid pressure within the chambe'r-GI of the motor I5 and to cause a retraction stroke of the piston IT. The hydraulic system also provides means for operating the fluid motor 25 which thereby forces the die element 40 into engagement with the die element 40a to close the mold and to elevate the die element 40a into engagement with the nozzle I2 of-the injection cylinder II.

The hydraulic system consists of a pump I5,

' which may be either a manually operated pump as disclosed in the drawing in Figure l, or can be a motor driven pump of the variable delivery constant pressure type. Variable delivery pumps which are controllable as to their maximum pressure delivered are well known articles of commerce, thus further description and disclosure is not deemed necessary. The manually operated hydraulic pump I5, as disclosed in the drawing, consists of a cylinder I6 within which a piston 11 is reciprocated by means of a plunger I8. The plunger I8 is connected to an operating lever I9. The hydraulic pump I5 has an inlet 80 which communicates with a liquid storage tank 8| by means of a conduit 82. A liquid outlet 83 is provided in the pump 15 and communicates with a pressure fluid supply line 84. Suitabl check valves 85 and 86 are provided in the inlet and the outlet respectively to control the passage of fluid through the pump I5.

The fluid discharge conduit 84., which com-- municates with the pump 15, is connected to'a conduit 90. The conduit 90 is in communication with a chamber 9| provided within the fluid motor whereby fluid entering the chamber 9| will cause the plunger 29 to advance the die element 40 into closing engagement with the die element 40a. A hand valve 92 is provided in the conduit 90' to control flow of fluid to the chamber 9| of the hydraulic motor 25.

The conduit 84 is also in communication with a conduit 95 which connects with the push-back chamber 96 of the fluid motor I5. A hand operated valve 91 is positioned in the conduit 95 for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to the push-back chamber 96 of the fluid motor I5.

A conduit 98 interconnects the conduit 95 with the push-back chamber 99 of the fluid motor 25, a hand valve I00 controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through the conduit 98 to the push-back chamber 99. A branch conduit |0I connects into the conduit 98 between the valve I00 and the push-back chamber 99, and communicates with the fluid storage tank 8|. A hand valve I02 controls the flow of fluid through the conduit IOI. A branch conduit I03 interconnects the conduit 90 with the fluid storage tank 8|, and has a valve I04 positioned therein for controlling the return of hydraulic fluid from the chamber 9| of the fluid motor 25 to the fluid storage tank 8|.

The hydraulic system heretofore described provides means for providing hydraulic pressureto the fluid motor 25 for clamping the die elements 4!] and 40a together, and for advancing the die element 40a into engagement with the nozzle I2 of the injection cylinder The system also provides means for supplying hydraulic fluid to the push-back chamber 96 of the fluid motor I5, whereby the piston I1 and plunger I8 are caused to move through a retraction stroke against the pressure of the gas existing in the chamber 6|. The hydraulic circuit thus provides means for overcoming the pressure existing in the chamber 6|, and for forcing the fluid in the chamber 6| to return to its reservoir 60, whereby the initial pressure of the fluid in the reservoir is re-established, and will be available for use when the hydraulic fluid within the push-back chamber 96 is permitted to exhaust therefrom under suitable control.

The control over the exhaust fluid from the push-back chamber 96 consists of a choke or fixed orifice valve IIO provided in a by-pass line III which interconnects the conduit 95 with the fluid tank 8|. The choke valve I I0 is constructed in a manner that the size of the or-ifice therein can be varied to permit alteration of the rate of flow of fluid therethrough. The conduit I thus by-passes the hand valve 91 and the hydraulie pump I5 and thus becomes the exhaust line forthe push-back chamber 96 of the fluid motor I5. A hand operated shut off valve H2 is positioned in the by-pass conduit III for controlling the opening and closing thereof.

When the plastic injection machine is in the position as shown in Figure 1, the shut off valves II2, I04, I02 and I00 have previously been closed to permit hydraulic fluid to be pumped through the conduits 84 and 95 to the push-back chamber 96 of the fluid motor I5 whereby the piston I1 and plunger I8 were moved through a retraction stroke. The valve 91 was then closed whereby hydraulic fluid under pressure was retained in the push-back chamber 96. Subsequent to this operation the valves I00 and I04 were opened while valve 92 was closed to permit hydraulic fluid from the pump to be directed through the branch conduit 98 to the push-back chamber 99 the fluid storage tank BI.

of the fluid motor 25 whereby the die elements 40 and 40a were separated. The fluid in the chamber 9| of the motor 25 was exhausted to the fluid tank 8| through the valve I04 and the conduit I03. As the system now stands the shut off valves H2, 91, 92 and I02 are closed, the valves I 00 and I04 beingopen, and the push-back chambers 86 and 99 of the fluid motors I5 and 25 respectively are filled with hydraulic fluid.

The operation of the injection machine from this point is as follows. The shut off valves I00 and I04 are now closed while the valves 82 and I02 are opened whereby hydraulic fluid is circulated from the pump I5 through the conduit 90 to the chamber 9| in the fluidmotor 25, thereby forcing the piston 28 upwardly to close the die elements 40 and 40a, and cause the die element 40a to engage the nozzle I2 of the injection cylinder II. The hydraulic fluid in the push-back chamber 99 is exhausted through the-conduit 98 by way of the conduit l0| and the valve I02 ,to

thus applied to the die elements 40 and 46a and can be retained through the injection cycle which follows subsequently by means of the pump I5, which if operated manually ma require operation during the injection cycle to overcome leakage of the fluid motor 25 past the piston 28, or if a motor driven pump is provided the automatic Clamping pressure is constant pressure control of the pump itself will maintain the desired clamping pressure.

As heretofore mentioned the push-back cham ber 96 of the fluid motor I5 is filled with hydraulic fluid. Also, the gas pressure from the cylinder 60 is existent within the chamber BI so that a pressure source is constantly available for moving the piston H in a forward stroke when hydraulic liquid is discharged from the pushback chamber 95. To cause an injection stroke of the plunger I8 the shut off valve H2 is opened whereby hydraulic fluid from the push-back chamber 96 can traverse the conduits 95 and III to the storage tank 8| by way of the hoke or fixed orifice valve H0.

The valve I I provides means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through the conduits 95 and III, and thus Controls the rat of forward advancement of the piston I1 and the plunger I0. The pressure existing within the chamber 6| of the fluid motor I5 is preferabl a substantially constant pressure which is controlled by means of the constant pressure regulating valve 65. If the pressure in the chamber 6| is substantially constant the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid through the valve IIO will be substantially constant when the valve has been adjusted to a predetermined fixed orifice. The speed of operation of the plunger I8 and the piston I! ma thus be controlled by restraining the flow of the hydraulic fluid from the push-back chamber 96, and thus can be varied by varying the orifice within the valve IIO.

It is thus seen that this invention provides a system wherein the speed of operation of the injection plunger iscontrolled by the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid from the push-back chamber of the fluid motor operating the plunger, and that this control is effective regardless of the source of pressure available to the advancing chamber for the motor I5, as long as the pressure within the advancing chamber is sufficient to obtain the. desired speed of operation. This pressure within the advancing chamber 6| of the fluid motor I5 may be either a gas pressure, as disclosed in the drawing and as heretofore described, or could be a hydraulic pressure, the criteria of the pressure used being that it shall be constantl applied within the advancing chamber 6| for the fluid motor. If the pressure existing within the advancing chamber 6| of the fluid motor I5 is a substantially constant pressure it can readily be seen that a fixed orifice valve, as disclosed by the valve IIO will control the rate of movement of the plunger I8 at a constant rate.

However, if the pressure within the chamber BI is a variable pressure then it is required that a control valve capable of establishing a constant discharge liquid flow from the chamber 96 be positioned within the conduit III. Such a valve is disclosed in Figure 2 which operates in cooperation with the fixed orifice valve III) to establish a constant liquid flow through the conduit III. The valve I35 consists of a body I20 within which a piston I2l reciprocates. An inlet chamber I22 is provided around the piston I2I and communicates with the conduit III. An outlet chamber I23 is provided around the piston HI and is interconnected with the inlet chamber I 22 by means of an orifice I30 in the piston I2I, which orifice has a tapered end to control varying quantities of fluid passing therethrough. The outlet chamber I23 communicates with the choke valve IIO by means of a conduit I24. The conduit I24 has a branch conduit I25 which communicates with a chamber I26 provided around the piston I2I and into which the end of the piston I2I extends. The opposite end of the piston I2I slides within a cylinder bore I2I within which there is provided a compression spring I28 for urging the piston I2I into engagement with a stop provided within the chamber I26. The valve IIO communicates with the fluid storage tank 8| by means of the conduit I I la.

The valve just described is arranged to pro-- vide a constant pressure in the outlet conduit I24 regardless of the pressure existing in the conduit HI whereby a predetermined pressure drop is occasioned across the choke or orifice valve IIO to thereby establish a constant flow of fluid through the valve IIO regardless of the pressure existing in the conduit III. As may be readily seen from the disclosure of the valve I35, as the pressure increases through the chambers I22 and I23, the pressure within the conduit I24 is increased and thus is reflected within the chamber I 26 and upon the exposed end of the piston I2I, whereby any increase in pressure within the conduit II I tends to move the piston I2I against the compression of the spring I28 to thereby restrict the flow through the orifice I30 and maintain the pressure in the conduit I24 constant. Since the pressure in the conduit I24 is constant, the pressure drop across the orifice valve I I0 will be constant and therefore the flow of fluid will remain constant. Since the flow of fluid has been established at a constant rate the exhaust of the hydraulic fluid from the push-back chamber 96 will be regulated at a constant rate regardless of the pressure existing within the chamber BI of the fluid motor I5.

It is thus seen that by this system the use of extremely high pressures for causing advancement of the injection plunger I8 is practical since the control of the rate of the advancement of the plunger I8 is definitely established by means of the control valve H0, or the combination of the control valve III! with the control valve I35.

As heretofore mentioned, the chamber SI of the fluid motor l5 can be filled with gas pressure from the cylinder 60. As an aid in preventing loss of gas pressure from the cylinder 60 an expansible rubber bag I40 has the edges thereof clamped between the flanges I4I. This rubber bag provides a diaphragm or sealed enclosure within which the gas pressure is confined, and which provides a seal between the gas chamber 6| and the hydraulic fluid chamber 96 to prevent leakage of gas between the piston I! and the cylinder I6.

While the form and embodiment of the disclosure herein presented is a preferred form,' yet it is understood that the system herein disclosed can be applied to any machine having a fluid operated plunger thereon and which is desired to be operated at a controlled rate of high speed operation. There are other mechanical arrangements and many other types of machines, which fall within the concept of my invention and which are included within the purview of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

l. A plastic injection machine comprising a fixed injection cylinder, an injection plunger reciprocable therein, a fluid motor connected to said plunger for reciprocating the same, a source of high pressure gas having a pressure greater than .necting said source of gas pressure to one side of said fluid motor for continuously urging the motor to advance said plunger into said cylinder, a source of liquid pressure, means connecting said source of liquid pressure to the opposite side of said motor, said source of liquid pressure being normally idle in the sense that liquid is not supplied therefrom to the fluid motor, means for causing operation of said liquid pressure source to'supply fluid to said fluid motor, means for by-passing said source of liquid pressure having flow regulating means therein, flow control means in said by-pass'for closing the same to direct liquid from said liquid pressure source to said fluid motor when said liquid source is operated to deliver liquid to said motor, flow control means for stopping the flow of liquid to said fluid motor when said by-pass flow control means is opened to permit flow of liquid through said by-pass as forced from said fluid motor by said gas pressure source, and means disposed between said gas pressure sourceand said fluid motor for regulating the pressure applied to said motor.

2. A plastic injection machine comprising a fixed injection cylinder, an injection plunger reciprocable therein, a fluid motor connected to said plunger for reciprocating the same, a source of high pressure gas having a pressure greater than that required to advance said plunger in said cylinder to eject plastic material from said cylinder, said source of gas pressure being the sole means of advancing said plunger, means connecting said source of gas pressure to one side of said fluid motor for continuously urging the motor to advance said plunger into said cylinder, a source of liquid pressure, means connecting said source of liquid pressure to the opposite side of said motor, said source of liquid pressure being normally idle in the sense that liquid is not supplied therefrom to the fluid motor, means for causing operation of said liquid pressure source to supply fluid to said fluid motor, means for by-passing said source of liquid pressure having fiow regulating means therein, flow control means in said lay-pass for closing the same to direct liquid from said liquid pressure source to said fluid motor when said liquid source is operated tod'eliver liquid to said motor, flow control means for stopping the flow of' liquid to said fluid motor when said by-pass flow con- 

